Spout with adjustable discharge head



April 30, 1957 Filed June 5, 1954 C. W. MELLETTE` SPOUT WITH ADJUSTABLE DISCHARGE HEAD 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY 4 ,L

April 30, 1957` c. w. MELLETTE 2,790,632

SPQUT WIT-H ADJUSTABLE DISCHARGE HEAD l L/ Filed June 5, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 @WML/f??? April 30, 1957 c. w. MELLETTE 2,790,632

sPoUT WITH ADJUSTABLE DISCHARGE HEAD Filed Jun-s 3, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w w w 5 w. fr MM Y m?? W United States Patent O SPOUT WITH ADJUSTABLE DISCHARGE HEAD Cyril William Mellette, Middlebury, Conn., assignor to Chase Brass & Copper Co., Incorporated, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 3, 1954, Serial No. 434,291

6 Claims. (Cl. 2451-59) This invention relates to spouts for plumbing fixtures in general, and to spouts ofthe swinging type in particular.

Previous spouts of this type, which are commonly provided in sump or basin-type fixtures, such as sinks or lavatories', for instance, customarily have a swivel mounting so that they may be turned into any desired angular position. While these swivelled spouts yare quite convenient in use for many purposes and alord a considerable discharge range, they are, despite their swingability, too unwieldy for other purposes. Thus, the water jets from these previous spouts are fixed in direction against the bottoms of the basins, and for that. reason do not lend themselves too readily, ifat all, to the cleaning and ilushing of many utensils in the basins and of the basins themselves. discharge ends of these spouts and the ensuing tendency of water jets therefrom to splash in all directions on hitting the bottoms of the basin or of containers to-be-iilled, deter` most persons from making full use of the available maximum discharge rate of these spouts.

lt'is an object of the present invention to provide a spout of this type which has all the advantages of the previous swivel-type spouts and, in addition, lends itself most readily to the aforementioned and other uses for which these previous spouts are either unsuitable or notlreadily suitable.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide a spout of this type which has directional flow control to the .extent of directing a Waterjet in any direction in a substantially vertical plane, thereby to obtain not only sus'otantially vertical delivery of Water as heretofore, but side-delivery of water in many directions as well.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide a spout with a discharge head that may be manipulated to obtain susbtantially vertical as well as side-delivery therefrom as aforementioned, thereby to permit omission of a swivel mounting for the spout and instead provide a rigid mounting for the same, if desired, and in consequence make available a non-swivelled spout installation which, by virtue of its wider use for cleaning and flushing purposes and its considerable splash suppression on side delivery, may by some be preferred to the previous swivel-type spouts.

Another object of thepresent invention is to provide the aforementioned manipulatable discharge head on a swivel-type spout, thereby adding to the aforementioned advantages of the discharge head those of .a swivel-type spout, and above all obtaining, by virtue of the swivel action of the spout in a substantialy horizontal plane and the possible delivery of water from the discharge head in all directions in a substantially vertical plane, the emission of water jets in universal directions within limits imposed by the respective. operating ranges of the spout and its discharge head, with the result that the discharge head may be used as effectively as a separate spray for the thorough cleaning and ushingof utensils in a basin or of the basin itself.

Moreover, the xed downward direction of the 2,790,632 Patented Apr. 30, 1957 A further object of the present invention is to provide a spout of this Vtype of which the aforementioned discharge head thereon has provisions for limiting its directional flow-control manipulation so as to prevent side-delivery from the discharge head over and beyond the basin and thus prevent accidental or unintentional splashing of areas outside the basin.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide a spout of this type with the aforementioned discharge head which is turnable on the adjacent spout end for rotation about the spout axis, and is ygenerally elbowshaped for the emission of a water jet in a substantially vertical plane, as well as for its ready manipulation into different directional flow positions.

It is a further object of the present invention to have the aforementioned provisions for limiting the directional flow-control manipulation of a turnable discharge head on the spout in the form of valve mechanism therein which in any position of the head within a predetermined angular range permits the discharge of water from the latter, but blocks such discharge when the head is turned outside this angular range, thereby not only preventing accidental or unintentional splashing of areas outside the basin, but even permitting omission of the usual faucet or faucets for the spout, if desired, and instead relying on the turnable discharge head on the spout for turning the water on or off.

Another object of the present invention is to arrange the aforementioned` valve mechanism in the turnable discharge head on the spout such that the head will, on being turned up, emit water at a flow rate which is suicient to permit the use of the spout and head thereon as a convenient bubbler or drinking fount, but insufficient ordinarily to splash water beyond the basin, thereby eliminating the need for drinking glasses or cups and, hence promoting convenience and economy, as well as safeguarding against the hazards of drinking from -glasses lthat may be contaminated with disease germs. j

A further object of the present invention is to arrange the aforementioned valvel mechanism or the turnable discharge head on the spout, or both, such that the head, while generally turned up to serve as a bubbler `or drinking fount, may nevertheless be slightly inclined so that the emitted water will not fall back on the head but drop to one side thereof, thereby further to encourage the sanitary use of the head as a bubbler or drinking fount.

It is another object of the present invention to arrange the turnable discharge head on the spout and the valve mechanism therein such that the head may, 'on being turned up as aforementioned, emit water, but the discharge rate of the water may, alternatively, be regulated bythe usual faucet or faucets for the spout, thereby to permit the use of the spout and head thereon not only as a bubbler or drinking fount, but also as a convenient refreshing face or head rinsing douche.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the aforementioned turnable discharge head on the spout with an aerator which normally will perform its designated kaerating function, and may be manipulated to cease aerating, thereby to furnish clear and palatable water for drinking purposes and aerated Water for all other purposes for which it is desired.

Another object of the present invention is to arrange the aforementioned aerator on the discharge head of the spout so that the same will perform its ,designated aerating function when the head discharges water directly into the basin, but will of itself cease to aerate every time the head is turned up to serve Vas a bubbler or drinking fount.

Further objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an installed spout embodying the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the same spout as in Fig. 1, but showingthe same in different operating positions;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a length of the spout;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sections through the spout, taken on the lines 5-5 and 6--6, respectively, of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 5, but showing the discharge head of the spout in different operating positions;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the spout mounting; y

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through a spout length similar to Fig. 4, but showing the discharge head of the spout in a different operating position;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a length of a spout embodying the present invention iu a modified manner;

Fig. l1 is a section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. l0;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a length of a spout embodying the present invention in another modified manner;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a length of a spout embodying the present invention in a further modified manner;

Fig. 14 is a section similar to Fig. 13but showing the discharge head of the spout in a different operating position; y

Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section through a length of a spout embodying the present invention in still another modified manner.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l to 9 thereof, the reference numeral 20 designates a spout for general use in plumbing lixtures, and particularly, though not exclusively, for use in sinks or lavatories. Thus, Figs. 1 to 3 show the spout installed, by way `of example, inl a sink 22 having a conventional top board 24 with hot and cold water faucets 26 and 28 for the spout, and a basin 30 with sidewalls 32 and a bottom 34 of which the latter is provided with the usual drain (not shown).

The spout 20, which in the present example is of the swivel type, comprises a conduit 36 having a throughpassage 38 (Figs. 4, 8 and 9), and a discharge head 40. The conduit 36 is in the instance generally L-shaped to provide a mounting branch 42 and a longer branch 44 of considerable forward reach. The mounting branch `42 of the conduit 36 has brazed or otherwise secured to its end an adapter sleeve 46 (Fig. 8) which is journalled in a tap 48 and provided with a collar 50 that is seated against the adjacent end of the tap. A nut 52, received by a threaded end length 54 of the tap 48, has an inner annular shoulder 56 which overlaps the collar 50 on the adapter sleeve 46 and thereby retains the same in seating engagement with the adjacent end of the tap 48 for rotation thereon whenever the spout is swung sideways about the swivel axis x-x of its mounting on the tap (Fig. 8). A sealing ring 58 is received in a peripheral groove 60 in the adapter sleeve 46 and bears against the inner wallrof the tap 48 to prevent leakage of water thereat. The tap extends upwardly through the top board 24 of the exemplary sink 22 and its exposed length thereabove is hidden from view by a sightly cover 62 which in this instance is bell-shaped and projects with its upper end into an annular recess 64 in the retainer nut 52.

The other end of the conduit 36 has in this instance brazed or otherwise secured therein as at 66 an adapter sleeve 68 of which a diametrically reduced length 70 serves as a journal mounting for the discharge head 40 to permit rotation of the latter about the longitudinal axis of the conduit 36 thereat. The journal portion 70 of the adapter sleeve 68 is provided with spaced peripheral grooves 72 and 74 of which the former receives a sealing ring 76 to prevent leakage of water along the journal support of the discharge head 40, and the other groove 74 receives in part a pin or pins 78 driven into the discharge head 40 to retain the latter on the adapter sleeve 68 while permitting its rotation thereon see also Fig. 6).

The adapter sleeve 68 has a passage 80 which is in alignment with the conduit passage 38 and terminates in one or more lateral outlet ports, in this instance thc outlet ports 82 and 84. Either one of these outlet ports 82 or S4 may communicate with a discharge passage 86 in the head 40, depending on the angular position of the latter relative to the conduit 36 (Figs. 4, 5 and 9). The discharge passage 86 in the head 40 is in this instance continued through a nozzle 88 which may be screwed to the head as at 90.

The outlet ports 82 and S4 in the journal portion 70 of the adapter sleeve 68 and the discharge passage 86 in the turnable head 40 serve as a valve mechanism to control the discharge of water from the head. Thus, when either or both of the usually associated faucets, such as the faucets 26 and 28 in Figs. 1 to 3, for instance, are turned on, water will be discharged from the head 40 as long as the same is turned into angular positions in which its discharge passage is in communication with either outlet port 82 or 84, and no water will be discharged from the head as long as the same is turned into angular positions in which its discharge passage is intercepted from either outlet port 82 or 84.

In the present instance, the outlet port 82 in the adapter sleeve 68 is, in the mounted condition of the spout, directed downwardly with its axis extending in the vertical -planc in which the swivel axis x-x of the spout extends, and its cross-sectional area is in comparison to that of the head passage 86 such that the latter will `he in communication with the outlet port 32 in any position of the head 4d' within an angular operating range extending from lthe position of the head in Fig. 7 a .like angular extent to the other side of the head from its vertical discharge position in Fig. 5. Accordingly, when either or both associated faucets are turned on, the spout may be used for vertical, or substantially vertical, downward delivery (Fig. l), or for side delivery in either direction (Fig. 2), of water from the head 40, depending on the position of the latter within the aforementioned operating range. Thus, the spout may well be used, similarly as in Figs. 2, to flush the sidewalls 32 of the associated basin 30 effectively without splashing over and beyond the basin, unless the spout is swung on its swivel mounting so far, accidentally or intentionally, as to project the issuing water stream beyond the basin. The gradual cut-ofi` of the outlet port 82 from the discharge passage 86 in 'the head 40 as the latter approaches the limits of its aforementioned operating range for this outlet port, is further advantageous by reducing the force of the water stream as the same is directedhigher and higher against the sidewalls of thc associated basin and, hence, ordinarily preventing splashing of water from the basin regardless of the direction of the water stream from the head.

It is, of course, entirely feasible to turn the water on and off at the discharge head 40 of the spout, in which case the associated faucets may be eliminated, or either or both may be left in any particular on position. This is especially true if the journal portion of the adapter sleeve 68 has a cock fit -in the discharge head 40, and the sealing ring 76 presses against the latter with sufficient force to withstand the full pressure of the tap water. In order to facilitate the manipulation of the discharge arcanes? h'd'fuihtdiu terriens? ngunrvnlndaff positions, the' saine is preferably' provided with'a convenient handle considerably smaller cross-sectional area than its counter-v part 82 to admit water into the discharge head 40 at a lower volumetric rate so that theE latterinay'serve as a convenient bubbler or drinking fount whenturned up as in Figs. 3 and 9, for instance. Thus, regardless of the extent to which the associated cold-Water. faucet 'is opened, the restricted width of theou-tlet` port 84f`prevents in any event `theissuance from the head 40 of'a waterstream which has much greater force than is needed for fountaindrinking and which might normally splash over and beyond the associated basin. Further, the relative widths ofthe outlet port `84 in the adapter sleeve 68 and discharge passage 86 in thehead 40 are such that the latter may, for fountain purposes', be turned considerably from s-trictly vertical' disposition. to either side thereof, as in Fig. 3, for instance, thereby directing the issuing water to ,the side of the head and more or less preventing, it from falling back on'fitselfv and, hence, rendering the spout more sanitary and inviting for use as a drinking fount.` However, the discharge passage 86 in the head 40 is yso arranged -that the same is evenl in ay strictly vertical up, position of `the head (Fig. 9) inclined forwardly and upwardly sufficiently to prevent the issuing water Afrom directly falling upon itselfand discouraging the luse of the spout as a sanitary drinking fount.'

While in the example shown the top outlet port 84 in the adapter sleeve 86 isuof. restricted width, it is fully within the purview of the present invention to make this outlet port of larger width, yand even of the same width as the other outlet port 82, i-f desired. In that case, the upturned discharge head 40 may well serve eitherjas a convenient. and sanitary 4bubbler or drinking fount, or as a refresh-ingl Iface or head rinsing douche or for other purposes, the .kindand flow rate ofwater to issue for either purpose to be regulated'by the associated faucets. Thus, besides serving asa bubbler or drinking fount, the spout may be used as a highly desirable, convenient and sanitary means Iforlrefreshing'ones face or rinsing lit clean aftersoaping or shaving, or. greatly tofacilitate the task of rinsing one'sfhair afterfshar'npooinguthe,same over a sink or lavatory as is so often done in between personal baths Iin the tub or under a shower.. Thereaseand comfort with which the spoutl may be ,used as a douche to rinse ones hair, for instance, ris even enhanced by turning the discharge head 40 'intosome such inclined up position as in Fig. 3, and, swinging the spout sufficiently aside toatford plenty ofv space for one's head over the basin with hardly any interference froml the spout, yet within full reach of *the water flowingA Ifrom the latter.

The hereinbefore explained vertical and side delivery ofy water by the present spout into an associated basin therebeneath is, of course, further advantageous, not only because its permits directand'more or less over-all flushing of the basin and thereby makes it possi-ble to clean the same more quickly and sanitarily and keep it clean with less reffort and fewer complaints of dr-udgery, but also-becauseit permits direct and sanitary-flushing in the basin of many utensils Itherein which heretofore could not be flushed directly or only on awkward handling of the same. Further, even` a slight lturn of the discharge head 40 from 'itsv strictly vertical down-delivery position in Figs. 4 and 5 into a position `such as in Fig. 1, for instance, will direct a water stream therefrom in somewhat inclined fashion against the bottom of the associated basin or of a container ,to-be-lled, with fthe result 'that little, if any, water will splash -far fromy its impact area with the basin or container even if the faucet or faucets should beturnedv Spam arid the tumabiiiry' idff-'ifsfheaa water 'discharge therefrom` may take` place in universal'fdirectius limits imposed 4by the respective operatingl ranges of the conduit 36 and head 40, wherefore the spout may readily be adapted for many beneficial uses in addition to-those y mentioned hereinbefore.

While the exemplary spout shown has a swivel mounting"l (Fig. 8) the latter may, vif desired, be dispensed with-v and thespout fixedly mounted in any suitable manner.

Such a non-swivelled spout installation may, by virtue of its turnable discharge head and ensuing wider use 'of the same for cleaning, flushing and fountain purposes, andalso considerable splash suppression on side delivery,-be well preferred by some1 to previous swivel-type spouts without turnablev discharge heads, and willi for some: purposes perform as well,` or almost as well, a'ts'thelsarnespout with a swivel mounting. I

Reference is now had to Fig. 10 which showsa modi? fied spout 20' thatvmay in every respect be 'likethe described spout 20, except that' the discharge head-40k of the present modified spout is retained on the journal por tion 70 of the adapter sleeve 68 by 'means' of steel balls (see also Fig. 11) which are received in complemental external and internal peripheral grooves 102 and 104 on" the journal portion 70' of the adapter sleeve 68' and in the head 40', respectively. The lsteel balls 100` are' in-Vj serted into the complemental peripheral grooves 102V and 104 through a ller hole 106 in the head which is normally closed by a form-fitting filler plug 108 and a length of the journal portion 70 of the adapter sleeve and a like adjacent length'of the bore `112 in the head 40 to permit the balls to function as a journallbearing for the head.

Reference is now had to Fig. 12 which shows another modified spout 20 that may in every respect be like either ofthe hereinbefore described spouts 20 lor 20', ex-

cept that the discharge head 40" of the present modified spout is retained 'on the journal portion 70" of the adapter sleeve 68 by means of a retainer nut .114.' To this end,

the adapter sleeve 68" has a collar 116 extending beyond the periphery of the conduit 36, and the head 40" has a threaded end 118 to receive the retainer nut 114 which is provided with an internal shoulder-'120 in abutting're'- lation with the collar 116 on the adapteru sleeve 68". The retainer nut 114 is tightened on the threaded head end 118 Without causing its internal shoulder 120 to clamp a chamber 134 into which lead a plurality ofI air intake slots 136'in a diametrically reduced sleeve portion 138 of the housing 132 (see also Fig. 15 The housing 132 has an internal shoulder 140 on which rest several; in this 1 instance three, superposed framed screens 142. Super* posed on theframed screens 142 is a cup 144 'havinguin its bottom 146 a multitude of perforations 148, and in its rim 150 a plurality of air holes 152 in open communication with the air intake slots 136. Superimposedupon the cup'144 is a strainer disc 154 having a multitude of perl forations 156'.

The strainer 130 herein described is entirely conventional and will perform its well-known aerating function on the the admission'of atmospheric air through thein-l take lslots 136 in the housing 13 2` However, since Aaerated;4

water is neither palatable nor by its cloudy appearance tempting for drinking purposes, provisions are made to render the aerator inoperative when desired. To this end, there is provided a valve ring 158 which has a sliding fit on the reduced sleeve portion 138 of the housing 132 and is movable thereon into positions to cover and expose the air intake slots 136.` Thus, when the discharge head 40 is in any down position within its lower operating range (Fig. 13), the valve ring 158 normally rests against an annular shoulder 160 on the housing 132 in an open position in which the same is out of closing relation with the air intake slots 136, wherefore the latter are then exposed to the atmosphere and any water issuing from the discharge head 40 will be aerated. However, if nonaerated water is desired for drinking or any other purposes, it is merely necessary to slide the valve ring 15S into covering relation with the air intake slots 136, as will be readily understood.

On turning the discharge head 40"' into any of its up positions within its upper operating range for using it as a bubbler or drinking fount, the valve ring 158 will of its own accord gravitate into the closed positions shown in Fig. 4 in which it covers the air intake slots 136, so that water issuing from the head will be non-aerated and, hence, fit to drink. Of course, if it is desired to discharge aerated water in any of the up positions of the head 40', it is merely necessary to manipulate the valve ring 158 out of covering relation with the air intake slots 136.

Reference is now had to Fig. 16 which shows a further moditiedspout 170 that may be like the described spout 20, except that the adapter sleeve 172 on the conduit 174 of the present modified spout has no lateral outlet ports, and has instead a through-passage 176 which is in direct communication with the discharge passage 178 in the head 180. Hence, the present modified spout lacks the valve arrangement of the earlier described spout 20, and is capable of discharging water in any angular position of the head 180 within 360 degrees.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced there- What is claimed is:

l. A spout, comprising a longitudinal conduit having at one end provisions for its connection with a tap so that the connected conduit will at least at its other end extend substantially horizontally, said conduit having at said other end substantially diametrically opposite lateral outlet ports and being provided with a passage between said one end and outlet ports; an elbow-shaped head having diverging legs of which one is journalled on said other end offthe conduit for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the'latter, the other leg of said head having a discharge passage with an aerating chamber and an outer peripheral groove with a bottom wall and opposite side walls, a part`of the bottom wall nearest the conduit axis being apertured to provide an air intake for said chamber, said discharge passage communicating with said outlet ports on turning said head into positions within substantially diametrically opposite predetermined angular ranges,` respectively, and being intercepted from said outlet'ports on turning said head into positions outside said angular ranges; and a ring of narrower width than that of said peripheral groove and received with a close sliding tit therein so as to be slidable axially of said discharge passage in said head between said side walls of said groove to'open and close said air intake.

2. A spout, comprising a longitudinal conduit having at one end means for its releasable swivel connection with a tap for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, and

being formed so that its other end extends transversely of the swivel axis, said conduit having at said other end substantially diametrically opposite lateral outlet ports with their axes extending substantially in the plane in which said swivel axis extends, and being provided with a passage between said one end and outlet ports; an elbowshaped head having diverging legs of which one is journalled on said other end of the conduit for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the latter, the other leg of said head having a discharge passage with an aerating chamber and an outer peripheral groove of which a part of its bottom nearest the conduit axis is apertured to provide an air intake leading to said aerating chamber, said discharge passage communicating with said outlet ports on turning said head into positions within substantially diametrically opposite predetermined angular ranges, respectively, and being intercepted from said outlet ports on turning said head into positions outside said angular ranges; and a ring received with a sliding tit in said groove and being axially slidable therein into opposite end positions in which to Open and close said air intake, respectively.

3. A spout, comprising a longitudinal conduit having at one end means for its releasable swivel connection with a tap for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, and being formed so that its other end extends transversely of the swivel axis, said conduit having at said other end substantially diametrically opposite lateral outlet ports with their axes extending substantially in the plane in which said swivel axis extends, and being provided with a passage between said one end and outlet ports; an elbow-shaped head having diverging legs of which one is journalled on said other end of the conduit for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the latter, the other leg of said head having an internally threaded discharge passage extending transversely of said other conduit end, said discharge passage communicating with said outlet ports on turning said head into positions within substantially diametrically opposite predetermined angular ranges, respectively, and being intercepted from said outlet ports on turning said head into positions outside said angular ranges; and an aerator on said head including a housing having a cylindrical sleeve portion externally threaded over an end length thereof for its releasable mounting in said discharge passage and being provided with an external shoulder spaced from said threaded end length to leave an intermediate cylindrical sleeve length between them of which a peripheral portion nearest said conduit axis is apertured to provide air intakes leading into said housing, and a ring slidable on said cylindrical sleeve portion into engagement with said shoulder and said other leg of the head for opening and closing said air intakes, respectively,

4. A plumbing fixture in the form of a mixing spout for supplying water to a basin, comprising an elongate conduit member having at its inner end means for its swivel connection to a tap; an adapter sleeve secured to the outer end of said conduit to form an extension thereof andl having an axial bore `for the passage of water therethrough, said sleeve being closed at its outer end and, adjacent said closed end, being formed to provide substantially diametrically opposed outlet ports intersecting said axial bore of said sleeve; a swivel head comprising an elbow-shaped conduit having diverging legs, one of which is journaled on said sleeve for rotational movement about the axis thereof, the other leg of said head providing a discharge passage extending transversely of the bore in said sleeve and communicating respectively with said outlet ports on turning said head into positions within substantially diametrically opposite predetermined angular ranges, and being intercepted from said outlet ports on turning said head into positions outside said angular ranges; said adapter sleeve having peripherally formed means in its journal portion, and cooperating means associated with said head lfor engagement with said peripheral means, to allow said rotational movement of the head about said sleeve as an axis but preventing longitudinal movement thereof.

5. A plumbing fixture as dened in claim 4, wherein said peripherally formed means is an annular collar encircling said journal por-tion of said adapter sleeve, and said cooperating means on said head comprises a retainer nut threadedlly received on said head and having an internal shoulder engaged behind said annular collar.

6. A plumbing fixture as dened in claim 4, wherein said peripherally formed means is an annular groove encircling the journal portion of said adapter sleeve, and said head has a complementary groove in its adjacent wall, and a plurality of steel balls are disposed in said complemental grooves so as to be partly engaged in each.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Peter Ian. 29, Day May 12, Bayles Mar. 15, Hulla Aug. 12, Kelleher Dec. 16, Goodrie Aug. 28, Hayes Oct. 16, Young et al. Dec. 16, Aghnides Mar. 2, Goodrie Oct. 5,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 30, 

